Rising insurance costs are making it difficult or impossible for many families to afford health care coverage. However, going without insurance puts the health of the entire family at risk, and children often are the most vulnerable. There are several options for finding insurance coverage for children.
Importance
Health insurance for children is important for several reasons. First, if your child has an accident or a major illness, insurance will pay the bulk of the cost of care and protect you against financial disaster. It also allows you to seek the best possible care for your child without worrying about money. And it gives you access to quality preventive care, which can help keep your child healthy and catch problems early.
Basics
Most health care coverage for children provides benefits for both preventive care and major medical problems. With preventive care, most policies pay most of the cost of regular checkups and routine immunizations. Major medical coverage usually pays a percentage of the cost for hospitalization and doctor care in the case of a major illness or accident. The specific coverages depend on the specific policy.
Family Policy
A family health insurance policy covers all members or the family, including children. You might get a family policy through your employer, or you might purchase one directly from the insurer. The premiums for the policy depend on the scope of the coverage, the area where you live, and other factors. You need to pay the premiums on time in order to keep the coverage in place.
Discounted Child Coverage
The Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, provides affordable health care coverage for children. CHIP is a partnership between the state and federal government. Federal guidelines dictate certain requirements such as coverage for preventive care, immunizations, hospital care, lab work, X-rays and dental care. The states design their own plans within that framework. The costs and specific coverages vary by state. The program is designed for families who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid but can't afford other insurance. Children covered under CHIP cannot have health care coverage under another policy.
Medicaid
Medicaid offers a health care coverage option for children in low-income families. Medicaid is also a partnership program between the state and federal government. The states set their own specific guidelines and coverage options for Medicaid. The Medicaid program is available to children under the age of 21 who live below the federal poverty level. Children under the age of 6 qualify if the family income falls below 133 percent of the federal poverty level. The services provided to children under Medicaid are typically free or low-cost.
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